Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, sent a written message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing his condolences on the assassination of Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatibzadeh.
The message carried a clear tone of urgency. The new Supreme Leader emphasized that “this great vacancy must be filled with redoubled efforts by the officials and staff of that sensitive ministry.”
Mojtaba Khamenei described the late minister as a “diligent minister” and a “veteran, yet largely unknown, figure with extensive experience.” He also called on intelligence agencies to intensify their efforts to overcome the repercussions of this loss under the current circumstances.
The release of this “paper” message comes at a time when the whereabouts of the new Supreme Leader remain shrouded in mystery; no photos, audio recordings, or videos of him have been released since he assumed power.
This seclusion has fueled international media reports alleging that he sustained serious injuries in an airstrike targeting the Supreme Leader’s residence. This makes the message appear to be an attempt by the regime to reaffirm its continued direct leadership over the state’s security apparatus.
